Downton Abbey Tea at Commerce Township Library: A gathering of old and new friends ("Then and Now")

Downton Abbey-inspired Tea at Commerce Library, with sisters Cecelia and Wendy Julien

Barb's Tea Service wrapped up its spring season of five events in less than four weeks at Commerce Township Library, hosting a Downton Abbey-inspired tea talk. Our staff included longtime BTS team member, Rob G., joined by the support and scones of great tea friend, Barb T.

BTS team Rob & Rachel, 2015

Rob G. serving tea for twenty years. . . 

              

We were thrilled to be asked to come back to the Commerce Library at the invite of Librarian, Alexis Shirk, who first reached out to us last year for our Jane Austen talk. We presented our "Austentacious Tea" April, 2024, where best-tea, Pam G. served up the Earl Grey and assorted tisanes.

Librarian, Alexis S, intro to DA tea

Alexis & BTS team member, Pam, Austen tea 2024

Last year, at the Commerce Library, we also met Jerry and Linda who were also among the guests at last week's Downton Abbey tea. Again, Larry was one of two winners of BTS' tea treat giveaway. Their humor and charm are always a delight!

Barb and Barb T. at this week's DA tea

 Barbs at Austentacious Tea, 2024

                   

We also were introduced to Cecelia and Wendy Julien, two lovely sisters who shared their family tradition of meeting every Sunday at their mother's house to watch Downton Abbey together. 

Linda and Jerry P. fun guests and frequent winners!

Jerry and Linda, last year's JA tea

The icing on the cake, or as we like to say, the "cream on the scone", was a beautiful cross stitch piece Barb gifted me at the DA event. Her needlework is incredible and I'm always in "awe" of her work. I've now added that to my dining room display.

"Cream on the scone":  beautiful cross stitch to add to my collection. Thank you, Barb T.!

And, in case you were wondering, it is always time for tea - especially when it includes old and new friends and a tenured tea server. 

More pictures below from the Downton Abbey-inspired Tea at Commerce Township Community Library. Thanks to all who joined us for this fun afternoon!

Among the tea, treats provided by guests, including Barb T.'s most delicious scones.

Rob serving Wendy & Cecelia, sisters with fond memories of watching DA with family every Sunday.

Guests ready for tea and treats at Commerce Township Community Library

A great group of old and new friends for BTS' Downton Abbey-inspired tea at Commerce Library

Almost 20 years in the making! Barb's Tea Service hosts Chocolate and Tea Pairing in Ann Arbor

BTS' Chocolate &Tea Pairing includes a specially curated sweets from Michigan chocolatiers.

A chocolate and tea pairing is always delicious fun, but add a wonderful group of women in a beautiful home in Ann Arbor and the event was made even sweeter. And the "referral" was almost twenty years in the making.

Rob G., longtime BTS team member, served tea and tech support.

Last week, Barb's Tea Service presented a "Chocolate Tea Pairing" to an organization connected with the University of Michigan.  As we served up four different teas with a variety of specially curated chocolates from three of our favorite Mitten State chocolatiers, we talked about the history of Camellia sinensis and its importance to many cultures.

We brewed four different teas, including BTS' double ginger.

Longtime BTS team member, Rob G., prepped, brewed and poured the tea in addition to providing on-site tech support. 

And, speaking of longtime, Laura C., member of the U of M group, who extended the invitation to BTS last year, told us she had initially heard about us from an article in the Detroit Free Press from 2007. She still had the article!

Almost 20-year-old "referral" brought us to this group!

Well, how about that? So do we. 

I started Barb's Tea Service (then Barb's TEA Shop) in 2005. As I was venturing out to museums, schools, libraries and other venues, outside of house parties, I received an invitation from the Free Press to be the focus of their Sunday feature "Five Things". It was a one-page highlight of a job/pastime/curiosity that could be boiled down to five short paragraphs.

Wondaful U of M org. We had a great time!

From the land of my paternal relations, there's a Swedish proverb that states, "all the flowers of tomorrows are in the seeds of today".  The Free Press article, which I long ago matted and framed and now hangs in my office, was "planted" almost twenty years ago and it's still producing fruit - or to be more specific, tea paired with chocolate-covered orange peels and Michigan cherries.

This group of women were absolutely awesome and many shared some of their favorite tea, tea accoutrements and tea travels. We thank them for inviting us to be part of their afternoon.  

And, for hanging on to that article for so long!

Treasures from Holland: Windmills, Delft and Wooden Shoes (souvenirs from Amsterdam. . . airport)

 

Windmills and Delft china, symbols of Holland

Have I been to Holland? Well, in a roundabout way, ja.

I grew up in a northern suburb of Detroit, on a street named Holland, I've been to Holland, Michigan and I've even been to Amsterdam, but only the airport. As lovely as the latter's layover destination is, it's still not The Netherlands experience, of course, so, that, too, is on the "wish list". But, there's still plenty to admire from afar, including, windmills, Delft porcelain and wooden shoes (most of which can be purchased at the airport in Amsterdam).

A recent trip to Holland, Michigan, to partake in their annual Tulip Festival, not only underscored The Netherlands on my vacation vision board, but had me take inventory of what Dutch treasures I own and why. 

Windmill adds diversity to miniature Tudor village

Windmills:

According to "About the Netherlands", a fun, fact-filled website, windmills are probably one of the most recognizable symbols of the country and for many reasons. There are over one thousand historic windmills in Holland, the first dating back to the thirteenth century.  They are multi-purpose, having been used for grinding grains, pumping water and even communication. However, one of the more humorous references to windmills come via Dutch proverbs.

Among some of those proverbs listed in About the Netherlands are:  

• Not every miller is a thief
• A windmill does not work without wind
• And, my personal favorite, Een klap van de molen gekregen hebben, which translate to, "to be hit by a windmill".  This is generally used when someone is not too  clever or, in other words, Dutch-speak for "not the sharpest knife in the drawer".

I do not own a working windmill, but I do own a few collectibles. From Lilliput Lane, I have a diminutive "Hollandse Poldermolen" (aka, "Dutch Windmill") that belongs to an eclectic village that resides in my curio cabinet. I'm not sure if I bought this abroad, but it adds diversity to its neighboring- England-inspired Tudor homes and thatched cottages.

My collection of faux Delft china.

Delft and other fine dishes

While I have a lot of faux Delft china that does a satisfactory job of replicating Holland's signature blue and white porcelain, I do not have anything authentic. 

Like windmills, Delft china is strongly associated with the Netherlands, although it arrived on the scene about three centuries after Holland's first molens. In the 1600's, the Dutch first produced Delft in the eponymous town, to copy Chinese porcelain. It was affordable and attractive, but it lacked kaolin, a substance found in clay native to China, but unavailable in Holland.

Delft pottery peaked in the mid-18th century, when kaolin-containing clay was discovered in Cornwall, England. This "find" made pottery production cheaper and more robust than the earthenware from Delft.

Wedgwood captured the Delft market in 1750's

Wedgwood windmill dish from Amsterdam

Lo and behold, it was Josiah Wedgwood who set up his pottery factory in 1759 and took over the Delft market. 

That brings me to my second collectible, which I know for sure, I purchased at the Amsterdam airport:  a Wedgwood blue jasperware dish with - what else, but? - a windmill! (the price tag, in Euro's, is still on the bottom of the dish.)

Wooden shoe magnet, only miniatures in my current collection.

Wooden Shoes:

Other products closely associated with The Netherlands are wooden shoes, and date back at least as far as the windmills. The first completely intact pair of wooden shoes, dated back to 1230, were found in an archeological excavation in Amsterdam.

Although, they may seem uncomfortable, according to the Netherlands Insider, they are custom-fitted to one's feet and provide posture protection, shock absorption and serve as a protective barrier from rain and snow.

But, as far as my personal collection, all wooden shoes are, like my windmill, miniature. I have wooden shoe refrigerator magnets and a wooden shoe keychain-turned-Christmas ornament, both of which were, again, purchased at the Amsterdam airport.

I did, though, at one time, own a pair of true-human-foot-sized wooden clogs. As a young teen, I joined my parents on a weekend excursion to Holland, Michigan, and, caught up in the spirit of the Wooden Shoe factory tour, I asked for my own pair.  My mom and dad must have also experienced a bit of "when in Rome" and were agreeable to buying me the Dutch precursor to the modern day croc. 

The problem is, unlike crocs, there are not a lot of opportunities to wear them.  Maybe gardening? Maybe a Halloween costume? Maybe not. They spent years in my closet. Eventually, I gave them away. And, that is why any wooden shoe purchases since have been limited to the teeny tiny ones.

Visit to Amsterdam airport, 2021, gift shops and Cafe Coco

Vacation Vision Board:  Beyond Cafe Coco:

While I've been to the Amsterdam airport many times, the last was 2021, a layover from Budapest to Detroit, where we lunched at Cafe Coco, we've put "exploring beyond the Delta terminal" on our Vacation Vision Board. We're looking forward to seeing more windmills, Delft china and wooden shoes (and gift shops!) beyond the gates of Holland's premier connection hub. 

Pickwick Teas: A Dutch brand, with ties to Dickens and Austen, that promotes conversation

Pickwick tea, its roots dating back to the18th century, has ties to Dickens and Austen

 

Last week, as part of my Holland, Michigan tulip extravaganza which included a tour of a tulip farm and a stop at their gift shop, I purchased the "Dutch" tea blend from Pickwick, the largest tea brand in the Netherlands with roots dating back to the mid-18th century. 

Founded by Egbert Douwe and his wife, Akken in 1753, the couple sold coffee, tea and tobacco in Joure, Friesland. Almost two centuries later, the company was run by Johannes Hessel and it was his wife, a Charles Dickens enthusiast, who influenced the tea company's new name from Douwe Egbart to Pickwick.

Is there always a Jane Austen connection?

Rhetorical, but, mostly, yes! Charles Dickens was a frequent guest of the White Hart Inn, owned by Eleazer Pickwick, hence the inspiration for the title, "The Pickwick Papers". The same White Hart Inn is mentioned in Jane Austen's persuasion.

Unless you speak Dutch, you'll need a translator to spark conversation.

As we noted in a previous Holland-themed blog, there's a lot of "good feelz" with this company (Rainforest Alliance certification, member of Ethical Tea Partnership) and its mission to also promotes good conversation with a kick-off question on every tea label.  Per Pickwick's website, the provoking inquiries are a way to "encourage everyone to take more time for each other". 

But, take note, you will need Google translate. The petite probes are in Dutch. Our first question was:  "What surprising insight have you gained recently?".   (Perhaps, I would respond, all the great English literature connections to Pickwick teas.)

According to Jane Pettigrew's, "A Social History of Tea", the Dutch, along with the Portuguese, were the first to import tea from China to Europe. It was the Dutch who won the monopoly on the spice trade while England was struggling to get a foothold on tea imports from Asia. In fact, when the Brits wanted to gift a box of tea to King Charles II and, his queen from Portugal, Catherine, in 1664, they had to buy it from Dutch merchants.

Happily, England's East India Trading Company did gain traction in the tea trade shortly after and, no surprise, they caught up fast. Soon, tea would be the most popular drink in the country.

Now, back to the Netherlands. . . 

Pickwick Dutch Blend review

This was our first introduction to this tea brand, and specifically the "Dutch" blend. We thought it was "heel goed" (very good).  Ingredients are black tea and orange peel and, per the label, it scores two leaves out of four on the intensity scale (with four leaves being the most intense). It's an inoffensive blend that should appeal to many - a bit of an "Earl Grey lite". 

And, with the brand's English lit connections, we say, Pickwick Dutch tea, has much to recommend.

Tulip Festival in Holland: Tea, tulips and tremendous western Michigan sunsets!

Visiting a tulip farm in Holland, beautiful and "festival-adjacent".

Tulips are blooming in Holland, Michigan

Tulips bright colored and gay.

Dance on the scrubbed streets of Holland, Michigan

When tulips bloom in May.

The lyrics above are taken from the first verse of a song I was taught in elementary school, and, although, that was a very long time ago, and I've lived in Michigan all my life, I had never been to my home state's much celebrated tulip festival - that is until last week. And, true to the tune, it was in Holland, in May, when tulips bloom!

Last weekend, my cousin, Dianne, organized a "Sistahs' " (Dianne, my cousin, Kathy and myself) spring outing at her home, conveniently and enviably located a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. The focus of our get-together was nearby Holland's Tulip Festival where one can soak in the spectacular display of hundreds of different varieties of the honored flower.

With our respective conflicting schedules and mounting crowds leading up to the weekend, we opted for "Plan B":   a detour from downtown Holland to tour Veldheer Tulip Garden, a fully operational flower farm with adjoining gift shops featuring Dutch cookies, tea and Delft china as well as a wooden shoe factory.

Entry to the Veldheer Tulip Garden.

Tulips, bright colored and gay!

Veldheer does have an entry charge of $17.00 per adult, but not a bad price to view 850 different types of tulips with a collective count of over five million. Rows and rows of colorful blooms greet you during what can easily be a two to three mile walk.  It's a picture-postcard immersion of gorgeous hues - an idyllic spot to get your steps in.

Walking the rows and rows of tulips, one can easily take in a two to three mile walk.

At the gift shop, I purchased the "Dutch" tea blend from Pickwick, the largest tea brand in the Netherlands with roots dating back to the mid-18th century. (watch for our upcoming story/review of Pickwick tea).  

Along with all the good feelz that come with Pickwick teas (Rainforest Alliance certification, member of Ethical Tea Partnership), it also promotes good conversation with a kick-off question on every tea label. (Although, this is not something the Sistahs ever need assistance with.)

Sistahs, no conversation starters needed.

Prime sunsets on Lake Michigan 

Our weekend in Holland was filled with flowers, marathon chit-chats (see directly above) and, the best, bar none, sunsets over Lake Michigan.  If there's anything better than indulging in scenic Michigan destinations, it's doing so with the best of company. 

I think it's time to revise Verse 2 of our tulips tune:

Tulips were blooming in Holland, Michigan

They gave quite a show in May,

We avoided the crowded streets of Holland, Michigan

But still had tulips, sunsets and (lots to) say!

Gilded Age at Sterling Heights Library: BTS strikes gold with great friends, impressive venue and delightful guests

An evening filled with great friends and awesome guests. Theresa K., Barb G., Laura Q. and Pam B.

With great friends, impressive venue and a room full of delightful guests, one could say Barb's Tea Service struck gold last week at the Sterling Heights Public Library as we presented our Gilded Age Tea Talk.

Gilded Age Tea Talk in Sterling Height's beautiful presentation room.

At the referral of cher amie, Theresa K., who is an active volunteer at both the library and the neighboring Upton House, we were connected to Mitchell M., librarian and the host of last Wednesday's event. Joined by BTS best-tea, Pam B., who helped with beverage set up and check-in, and longtime comrade, Laura Q., the room was quickly filled with fantastic folks ready to take a trip back to the 19th-century with the likes of the Vanderbilts and Astors and hear about the conflicts between the old and new money.

April-birthday wins BTS Double ginger tea

Fantastic folks joining us on Gilded Age journey

While sharing some of our Gilded Age home visits of our past, we also added our most recent trip to Troy, New York, where last August, we took in a tour of HBO's Gilded Age on-location film sites.

We also included hometown Gilded Age connections that tied to the "Commodore" and Thomas Edison as well as notable wealthy Detroiters of the era and their homes - some of which still stand today.

While we presented an April-birthday guest with a package of our soon-to-be launched BTS tea, we were also gifted a few Gilded Age locations recommendations for future sojourns to this intriguing era in U.S. history.

Thanks to all who joined us at the Sterling Heights Library!

HBO's Gilded Age, Season 3, premiers June 22!

Happy Mother's Day: Make it one for the books (Reposting Mother's Day blog, May, 2016)

Me and my Mom always ready for a day out, if it's scheduled

This post is from BTS blog, May, 2016. In nine years since, incredible folks have joined our family and I'm thrilled to be not only a mom, but "mother-in-law", too! Whoever in your life you wish to honor today, Happy Mom's Day to all. 💗

Mother's Day is time to honor all moms for all they do and all they mean to us. I'm no exception to paying tribute on this holiday, but seriously consider my good fortune all year round.  I was lucky to have an incredible mom. I'm also equally fortunate to be a mom to three amazing children.

Although it's been twelve years since my mom passed away, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her. I know she'd be thrilled to hear about how her grand-kids are doing, although she wouldn't be surprised by any of their successes, as she knew them to be the smartest, cutest, and most wonderful grandchildren ever. Part of her legacy lives in their strong will and independent thinking, but for me I've also got a collection of books that keeps me connected to her all the time.

December, 1989 when I became a mom of 3 (Rob, Rachel and Matt)

But a little backstory first. .

The fact that my mom was only eight when she lost her own mother, (and my dad when she was only 52), makes her story of strength, selflessness and devotion to her family even more incredible and, always from my perspective, inspirational.

We were close and enjoyed each other's company, although we differed in so many respects. My mom was a neat freak, with a schedule that was never departed from, even if something fun came along. I keep a clean enough house, but if you want to invite me for tea or shopping, I'll cancel the utensil drawer reorganization in a New York minute.

Along that ordered lifestyle, my mom would fill up her gas tank when it was still  three quarters full. A constant source of anxiety for my mom was my habit of  never pulling into a gas station  until the "E" light was flashing on my dashboard.

But my mom and I agreed on a lot more than we disagreed:  passion for family, politics, fine dining, vacationing, and bar none, that she had the best grandchildren in the world.

There are so many times, I wish I could call my mom and say, "you were right!", or, even at the age of 58, I'd desperately ask, "what should I do now?", because she would always know.

But we're still connected by memories, photos and oh, so many books!!

In recent years, I've found my mom talking to me through her book collection. After she retired,  and the newspaper strike ensued, my mom poured into books of all subjects. She frequented Borders and used-books stores with her list of tomes that she had read and those she wanted to read.

One of my favorite books from my mom's collection, The Mitford Sisters.

My brother, Ed, wisely, collected up all her books and stored them away, not letting them go in the estate sale. With additional wisdom, my sister-in-law, Sandy, organized a book sorting party a few years back with the family. She and Ed brought out all the boxes of books and with  my brother, Glenn, my hubby and some of the  kids, selected those that interested us most.

I gathered my selection with some focus and a lot with "that looks interesting".  I didn't really know what all I had. That is, until recently.

As I was doing research for my "historical teas" I found a wealth of books on a variety of relevant topics in the bookcase filled with my mom's collection. When I was searching for anything connected to the British aristocracy, once Downton Abbey came on the scene, I came across "The Mitford Sisters" by Mary Lovell.  It's a fascinating account of a wildly eccentric family with connections back to the 1500's, traced to Bess Hardwick. Making this even more extraordinary was my manager had given me the Bess Hardwick biography (also authored  by Mary Lovell) to read only a few months before.

I ended up interviewing Mary Lovell when I was writing for the on-line newspaper, The Examiner. Ms. Lovell thanked me for all I was doing to promote the reading of biographies.

In turn, I thank my mom.

And, now that I'm all about the Gilded Age, with a return visit  to my mom's collection,  I found two of Edith Wharton's most popular books, "House of Mirth" and "Age of Innocence", both of which I've read, courtesy of my mom.

A portion of the bookcase housing my mom's collection

Mother's Day tradition with my kids (aka,  three of "the best grandkids ever"), is to go out to an informal tea and just spend the afternoon together. This year, due to grad school schedules and other conflicting events, our tea will be next weekend - which will be perfect. Doesn't matter the date, just that we'll be together.

Mother's Day tradition of casual tea with the greatest kids!

To my mom, if I'd ever get the chance to make that call, I'd like to say, " I love you, you were right about everything, what do I do now?, the books are great we need to discuss and I filled up the tank today and the gas gauge wasn't even on Empty."  I might add in a whisper, ". . .but the utensil drawer is still crazy messy."

Happy Mother's Day to all and continue to make it one  for the books!!!